What it means to CARE? The phrase "care" means something different to everyone. For some, it is simply a person that is very kind and caring and has a good listener. "Caring" in this case means listening and understanding the other person's needs and wants. This can sometimes be done without judgment or judgmental language.
For others, caring means something more like understanding your partner's needs. They can be as caring as you are, but they also need to understand and respect your partner's needs so they do not act on their own behalf or use their caring to justify any of their actions. There are many ways to interpret "caring." Each person interprets it differently. In my opinion, understanding is the best way to make a meaningful interpretation.
An important point to consider is whether the person you are with can actually understand your words and actions. If they are not able to do so then you are dealing with someone who may be using the words and actions to avoid responsibility for their actions. I find that true.
If your partner is doing what he/she wants to do based on their own self esteem and their own beliefs then they probably can not understand your words and actions because they cannot see where they are coming from. They have no idea that you may be using words and actions to get them to act the way you want them to act. You have just made it easier for them to not think about how they are acting.
A much better approach is to let your partner talk about his/her own words and actions with you and let you determine what it means to care. When you let the other person decide what is caring, the communication becomes more open and honest. If you make a decision based only on the words of your partner, you have created an atmosphere where the other person can choose for themselves. what their actions mean to them and what their words mean.
There is a difference between being caring and being selfish. Your actions have nothing to do with who is caring and who is not caring. Your actions are a reflection of your feelings about the relationship. How we act depends on how we feel about caring. If we care about our partner's feelings, happiness and health then we act in a loving manner. We don't take actions that are selfish. Instead, we use our caring to show that we care about how our partner feels.
What it means to care depends on your perception of the relationship. If you think it means that you are selfish and only care about yourself, then you have chosen the wrong way to show care. If you think that you are caring but you aren't doing anything to actually help your partner, then you are being very selfish. You have chosen the wrong path.
It is not easy to know what it means to care when you love someone. It takes time to work out what it all. One thing to keep in mind when making the decision about your own actions and words is to never forget that your actions and words have consequences. They will either help or hurt you.
It may seem like you are not helping at all if you are saying what it means to care because you are saying something that hurts the other person. However, if you act in a loving manner you will always be in the right. You will never make the other person feel worse than they already do because you are showing you care.
So how does a person know what it means to care? By using the words of your partner to communicate with them.